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English Premier League: The Chelsea-Sarri marriage should break as soon as possible

By Kaustubh Pandey

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Maurizio Sarri, coach of Chelsea looks on prior to the international friendly between Chelsea FC and Perth Glory at Optus Stadium on July 23, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Maurizio Sarri, coach of Chelsea looks on prior to the international friendly between Chelsea FC and Perth Glory at Optus Stadium on July 23, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Maurizio Sarri, Manager of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on February 10, 2019, in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 10: Maurizio Sarri, Manager of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on February 10, 2019, in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

That is where the answer lies. Not in the fact that Sarri is at fault. But in the fact that a manager like Sarri will never work out at Chelsea.

Not to say that he has done things that he shouldn’t have done, but it almost seems like a using a Mercedes key and a BMW – It can’t work. Unless one’s ideology weakens. Ever since Chelsea saw Jose Mourinho first take over the reins in 2004, two things have become part of the club’s DNA – these have helped them win 5 league titles and one Champions League title.

The football that the club has played has never been oozing of grace or sophistication. It is never something Pep Guardiola would lick his lips at. It isn’t something that relies on playing attractive football. It is result oriented and direct. Be it under Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte or Roberto di Matteo, the emphasis was on churning out results and being very tight at the back.

The second thing is the short-term mentality. It isn’t a wrong thing by any means for a club that has reaped successes with it. But it is always tailor-made for managers who play a pragmatic way and get instant results. There is little attention paid to the long-term. It is about what will happen at the end of the season, not about what will happen ten years later.

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